NMSU campus has rich traditions in chemistry and biochemistry that spans many departments. These include bio-engineering, biology, microbiology, molecular biology, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, geology and computer, and electrical engineering. There are opportunities for students to interact broadly across campus where doing so can fit their special interests.
The Chemistry and Biochemistry Deparment is organized to maximize the easy accessibility of its facilities. If a user already is properly trained in the use of a particular instrument, access is a matter of scheduling. Potential users who are not qualified operators can arrange for instruction. Training is offered on several levels, ranging from simple instrumentation familiarization for experienced users to formal course work available for graduate school credit.
Administration consists of a manager, staff, and an advisory committee. The advisory committee includes the manager and faculty members who provide insight pertinent to users' needs as well as evaluation and planning for instrumentation acquisitions. The day-to-day operations are the responsibility of the staff members who maintain quality control on all instruments. Selected for their special expertise, the staff ensure that researchers obtain useful information even in those cases when the researcher may only have limited experience with the techniques employed.
Research and teaching laboratories are located in various parts of the chemistry complex. In addition, graduate and undergratuate reading facilities are available to chemistry students. A machine shop operated by the physics department, is located in the next building. Spectrometers include 500, 400, 300, and 200 MHz high-resolution NMR instruments; several FT-IR spectrometers, circular dichroism, fluorescence, UV/visible spectrometers, Raman spectrometer, GC/MS, HPLC/MS, Prep HPLC/MS, as well as AAS/AES equipment.
There are a wide range of computer facilities available from microcomputers to supercomputers. Individual research groups in the Department of Chemistry maintain a variety of computer systems, including PCs and workstations. The department has advanced molecular modeling facilities. There is also online library access to a variety of chemical databases, including the Chemical Abstracts Service and SciFinder.
The department of chemical has assumed a new dimension in view of the unique approach to the study of the material world and the universe as a whole. Thus we now have to study forensic chemistry, biological chemistry, environmental chemistry, superconductor chemistry and many other frontiers have advanced chemistry and chemical education to an extremely dynamic endeavours of human knowledge in this age of exploration of space as well as micromolecular state of the material world.
The departmental efforts include: creating new materials for teaching and learning, many types of research, demonstrations and hands-on activities, sponsoring workshops for teachers, organizing laboratory and demonstration programs for school children and adults, disseminating exemplary ideas via publications